LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has rebuffed circulating rumours of planned mass sacking of workers in the state.
Otti declared the spreading of such information as misrepresentation of what his administration stands for.
Whilst engaging the media on Friday in Umuahia, the governor made a reaffirmation that his administration is committed to enhancing the state civil service for optimal performance and productivity.
He added that timely payment of salaries has already contributed to greater efficiency.
He said, “I don’t know where that is coming from. There is nothing like mass retrenchment. We have not even thought about it. There’s nothing in the pipeline.
“Like I said, we don’t have any such plans. We will continue to ensure that our civil service is enhanced and productivity goes up, particularly now that before the end of every month they (civil servants) get paid, so there is no excuse for truancy anymore.”
He attributed the fear of retrenchment among workers to guilt stemming from poor work habits.
Otti therefore warned civil servants accustomed to absenteeism that truancy would no longer be tolerated under the present administration
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He added, “People who were used to not going to work, we told them to know that our administration does not tolerate truancy and so if they are afraid, maybe, they are guilty. There’s no mass retrenchment in the pipeline.”
While addressing the issue of disengaged workers in the state civil service due to non-indigeneship under former administrations in the state, Otti expressed his satisfaction that a number of those affected have been re-engaged.
He further revealed that his administration is currently reviewing the cases of the remaining few disengaged workers with the aim of reintegrating them into the state workforce.
The governor reiterated his commitment to a non-discriminatory government, stressing that everyone, regardless of their place of origin, who contributes to the state would be treated equally.
He added, “As a person, I believe that people should not be judged or should not be treated fairly or unfairly based on where they come from. That is why in our administration, there are people who do not come from this state that have been given appointments.
“The reason is simple; once you live in Abia, you are from Abia, that is our own principle. You live here, you pay your tax here, you are involved in everything that we are doing, then we must treat you as part of us. This is a government that does not discriminate.
“As a policy, I treat people equally, even if you’re from the North and you live here. It is on that basis that I say anybody who was disengaged because of where they come from, we are looking at their cases.
“As we speak, we are looking at those few cases, they‘re not much. There is not much we can do about those who are not here with us (deceased) but those with us, we will look at their cases positively.”